Catalyst switches allow you to configure several descriptive system
parameters to ease in the administration of internetworking equipment. The
ability to document and identify networking equipment will make it easier for
network administrators to manage and maintain their network. There are two ways
that system information can be viewed or used.

This document describes how to set the system parameters on Catalyst
switches running CatOS and Catalyst 6000 Series switches, which can run either
CatOS on the Supervisor and Cisco IOS on the MSFC or Cisco IOS® on the
Supervisor and MSFC. System parameters can then be queried by SNMP management
stations. This document also shows you how to set the switch's date, time, and
command prompt. Below are the tasks that are performed in this document.

The information in this document is based on the software and hardware
versions below.

PC running Hyper Terminal Software

Catalyst 5509 switch running Catalyst software version 6.4(2)

Catalyst 6000 switch running Cisco IOS software version
12.1(11b)

Note: For CatOS, any Catalyst 4000, 5000, or Catalyst 6000 family member
could have been used in this scenario to obtain the same results.

The information presented in this document was created from devices in
a specific lab environment. All of the devices used in this document started
with a cleared (default) configuration. Failure to do this may cause some or
all of the steps in this document to fail. If you are working in a live
network, ensure that you understand the potential impact of any command before
using it.

Use the clear config all command on switches
with CatOS software and write erase command on
switches running Cisco IOS to ensure that the switches have a default
configuration.

Perform the following to set the system parameters on Catalyst switches
running CatOS and Catalyst 6000 Series switches in order for them to run either
CatOS on the Supervisor and Cisco IOS on the MSFC or Cisco IOS® on the
Supervisor and MSFC

Note: When beginning from a clean configuration in CatOS, the prompt
will automatically include a ">" symbol when you execute the set system name
command. In Cisco IOS, the prompt will automatically include "Router>" in
user exec mode. To change the hostname, you must be in the global configuration
mode. Refer to
Cisco
IOS Command Modes for more information.

Set the system prompt using the set
prompt command in CatOS. Set the prompt using the
prompt command from global config mode in Cisco
IOS.

Note: When setting the prompt with the set
prompt command in CatOS or the prompt
command in global configuration mode in Cisco IOS, include the ">" symbol if
you would like it to appear as part of the system prompt. In Cisco IOS, to
remove the new prompt and return the prompt to its default, use the
no prompt command.

Use the set system location command to
set the location information for the switch in CatOS. There is no equivalent
command for Cisco IOS. You can, however, use the banner
motd global configuration command to set location information..

For CatOS, view the system information by entering the
show system command at the prompt and note the
information in the fields for System Name, System Location and System Contact.
There is no equivalent command in Cisco IOS. Use the show
environment command. Show run can be
used to verify system location, system contact, etc.

For CatOS, use set interface sc0 and
set ip route commands to set the IP address and
default gateway on the switch (for management purposes). For Cisco IOS, use the
interface vlan, interface
mod/port, switchport and the
ip route commands to set up access to the switch.
You will enter both global and global interface mode.

Now, set the default gateway of the switch. Other types of
techniques may be used in setting default gateways and routing in general. The
following example is one method:

Switch-A(config)#ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 172.16.1.1

Verify the IP information on the switch by using show
interface and show ip route commands
in CatOS. Verify the ip information in Cisco IOS by using the show
ip interface brief and show ip route
commands.